KUCHING: SUPP Women chief, Kho Teck Wan (pic) expressed her concern on the recent public canning imposed on two women by the Kuala Terengganu Syariah High Court after they were found guilty of attempting same sex relations in April.
Kho acknowledged that same sex relationship is a ban not only in Islam, but many other religions as well and those who committed the offence should be punished according to their religious laws.
However, in this particular case in Terengganu the punishment was witnessed by over 100 members of the public.
“Every religion teaches us to be companionate, even in our methods of punishment. In the case of Kuala Terengganu, I think public canning on the two women was very severe as it amounts to a violation of their human rights.
“If our society does not punish the serial rappers or pedophiles in public, why are we punishing these two women in front of so many people?” Kho asked.
In comparing the same sex relationship with rape and pedophilic act, Kho believes that instead of canning those who are guilty of same sex relationship, the society will benefit more if the identities of all serial rapists and pedophiles are made public.
These perpetrators caused physical and mental harm to the victims and their families. In the case of the two women in Kuala Terengganu, the attempted same sex relation was a consensual act between two adult females with no victim involved.
